[Patrick Oben]

Please note:

1. 1. This assumes you have reviewed and understood the lessons Observations Part 1 and Part 2.
   2. Uses the logos Bible software(FREE online or desktop version), blueletterbible.com, Lexham Synthetic Greek NT( Limited preview for FREE version online)

This is simplified, and it goes from goes from the broad to the specific.

1. Structure and terms are observed together. As noted in Observation Part 2, Structure in shorter passages like verses and paragraphs is essentially syntax, grammatical.

“IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 KJV)

The verse has three independent clauses, connected by “and”. This is the general observation/structure about the entire sentence/verse
so it gives us three distinct, equally important statements about the Word(the purpose of independent clauses, and note that this is not an interpretation but an observation.

 

IN the beginning was the Word
First independent clause
Note the stylistic reversing of the normal order “the Word was in the beginning”.
The Word. Subject cluster
“The”. Non-routine, literal, a definite article, but functions here to modifier “Word” as an adjectival. Here, the logos software will go further to help tell you more specifically about the function. Eg, this article here functioning as an adjectival is playing the role of an attributive article, which adds definiteness to the main noun. Definite article means not just a general word but a specific Word in this verse.
Word. non-routine, fig, noun, singular. Greek logos. It is the subject of this clause.
NB. I have added the greek word here. We observe the texts in English. Howeer, you should note the Greek or Herbrew words( from Logos or other software) whenever it is pertinent.

Was in the beginning
Predicate with a verb and a subject complement.

was. non-routine, literal, verb( kind of term), imperfect, active, indicative, singular ( infections)
Main verb in the VP(verb phrase) of this clause, so it is the finite or main verb.

NB. The inflections are easy to pick up in the logos software or whatever similar software you use. For verbs, you will see the tense, mood, voice, number, person. I have included all the inflections here, but in some cases, you do not need to include all, especially in your notes!

in the beginning
Prepositional phrase( a phrase that starts with a proposition) that functions as the subject complement in this clause( read about linking verbs and complements here if needed)
As subject complement, it tells us something about time here.

in. non-routine( in this verse), lit, preposition. It functions as temporal preposition( a preposition telling us something about time).
NB. Logos will help you with the specific names, but notice you can tell yourself as we noted above the function of this word.
The object of this preposition is “beginning”. ( NB. Objects are required units of prepositional phrases). Read about prep phrases here.

the. Notice that this word is not in the original Greek text. It was supplied to make sense in English.
This is one tiny perk of using the Greek Interlinear text. Read what an interlinear is here if needed.

beginning non-routine, lit, noun, dative, singular.
Functions as the object of the preposition “in”.

NOW YOUR TURN…
I have completed a simple observation of terms and grammatical structure( syntax) of the first clause of John 1:1.
I added notes and links for explanation which I will certainly not add in my notes when I observe this verse.
You should complete the observation of the second and third clause as you would do in your notes.
If you have any comments, add them at the end of your observation.
Do not be to concerned about being 100% correct, as there is no such thing as a 100% correct observation!
You are learning now and make allowances to make mistakes and learn!

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